OPSEC for Preppers Prior to Collapse

We all like SEC,
right? Head out of the gutters folks, it didn't read
SEX! SEC, short for security. As kids we found comfort
in our homes with our families, maybe hiding under the
covers or with a fave blankie. As we grow up, our
concerns may focus on job security, financial security
and general home security.

Now we are big boys and girls,
preparing for TEOTWAWKI. Security takes on a whole new meaning when you
have to fear armed marauders streaming down your driveway to take your
preps, or worst. Your favorite blankie won't help you.

The SHTF and you’re well prepper with
all the guns, ammo, food and water a man could need. Well, guess what
danger ranger… failure to abide by these guidelines will quickly make
you a target. In this guide you will learn relatively simple SOP
(standard operating procedures) for survival groups who’ve advanced
their level of preparation. How can you avoid armed confrontations with
the marauders? What should you do prior to the collapse event in order
to keep your preps hidden from the world?

This post will
focus on steps to implement
prior to the collapse event.
Much of the terminology is
borrowed from the military but
lets be real, after TEOTWAWKI,
we will all be at war for
survival.

OPSEC
(operations security) is a
military term for the protection
of critical information deemed
mission essential. OPSEC for
preppers and survival groups
means the exact same thing. Your
survival group needs to protect
itself to prevent the mission
(which is survival) from
being compromised. There are
four OPSEC sub-elements you
should actively be addressing:

OPSEC → COMSEC
Communications Security

COMSEC
encompasses internet,
cellular/landline communication,
and radio transmissions for the
instance of prepping and
survival group operations.
Internet COMSEC inside the
survival community is a
very big deal. News flash
sports fans, survival groups are
an active target for DHS
(Department of Homeland
Security). According to DHS,
the desire to defend your family
is a threat to our country. You
have to remember there are
conspirators online who believe
the same ideology. The biggest
COMSEC threat is the information
you volunteer on social networks
like Facebook, Twitter and Etc…

A
sub-element
of
COMSEC
is
TRANSEC
or
transmission
security
between
radios
and
between
cellular
devices.
TRANSEC
is
typically
applied
in field
operations,
a more
advanced
form of
prepping
and
survival
training
for COTM
(communication
on the
move).
Unit
communication
during a
patrol
requires
TRANSEC
to
prevent
detection,
and
eavesdropping.
Failure
to
secure
communication
will
pose a
threat
when
SHTF.
You
never
know
who’s
listening,
focus on
practicing
secure
COTM
transmissions
by;

Changing
Radio
Frequencies
and
Call
Signs

Imposing
Radio
Silence

Authorization
Codes

Communications
Authentication

Cancelling/Altering
Transmission
Patterns

Classified
Record
Communication

OPSEC → PERSEC
Personal Security

PERSEC is
commonly used to inform service
member relatives and friends,
and can be applied to survival
groups and preppers. PERSEC
focuses the information you
provide to personal friends and
families about mission essential
information. PERSEC compromise
happens when you tell the wrong
person you have 10,000 rounds of
ammunition in your survival
bunker. Looks like Johnny Badass
knows where he’s going to
re-supply.

OPSEC →
INFOSEC
Information
Security

INFOSEC
applies
to the
protection
of
unauthorized
access
of
information
stored
in hard
drives,
notebooks,
personal
devices,
and etc.
Such
sensitive
data in
the
survival
field
would
include
ordnance
information,
asset
location,
manuals
and
supply
listings.
If you
must
store
information
that is
essential
to your
survival,
be sure
to store
your
data on
an
external
hard
drive
that
can’t be
accessed
by your
network.
Use the
leap
method
to
transfer
the data
from
your
personal
computer
to your
external
hard
drive to
prevent
network
connectivity.

These are all
considerations of OPSEC for
preppers that can be implemented
prior to the collapse event.
After TEOTWAWKI, when other
factors like a grid down
scenario come into play, OPSEC
becomes less technology
oriented.